Sat 17 Feb 2024
Broomfield Avenue was the venue for the arguably the most important fixture of the season for both Old Crossleyans and Bridlington RUFC. Prior to the fixture both teams sat just above the relegation zone. A win for either team would determine their league position in relation to the other.
The lead was then snatched back by Bridlington RUFC with the team scoring a try in the bottom corner through a series of quick offloads on the back of strong running from the opposition fullback. Bridlington missed the conversion leaving the score at 3-5.
The Old Crossleyans responded well to the try with strong defensive efforts and quick line speed forcing a handling error, which was quickly snapped up by Joel MacFarlane. The Old Crossleyans fly-half broke through the line and made it to the opposition final third, but scrambling defense from Bridlington held the Crocs out once again but at the price of another penalty underneath the sticks. Callum Dunne once again converted the kick to make the score 6-5.
Old crossleyans continued to mount pressure in the opposition half and came agonisingly close through efforts from the forward pack and slick hands in the backs leading to almost certain try that was intercepted by the Bridlington winger. Covering defense from Chris Vine was pivitol in ensuring the Bridlington winger did not run the full length of the field. The Old Crossleyans outside centre went above the call of duty and turned the ball over to put the Crocs back on the attack. The pace of the game did not slow leaving no place to hide for those who couldn't keep up. Thankfully Tom Metcalfe was amongst the Old Crossleyans side, and did not shy away from the efforts that were asked of him by the Bridlington back line. The flanker tracked back half the length of the field to retrieve a lose ball in his own 22, only to return a kick to the opposition back three and then chase it down and make a one on one tackle and stun the Bridlington attack once again. The Bridlington team grew back into the game just before half time and prior to the conclusion of the first half converted another penalty to take the scoreline to 6-8 at half time. A low scoring first half set a platform for a thrilling second half, which was either teams game.
The second half commenced with Old Crossleyans stalling. Missed tackles, combined with quick hands and slick offloads from the Bridlington outfit allowed them into the Crocs final third. A penalty shortly followed which was converted by Bridlington to make the scoreline 6-11.
The game was proving to be a battle of the kickers after the Old Crossleyans received another penalty, which was converted by Callum Dunne to make it 9-11. Another penalty in a threatening position followed again shortly after great territorial game was played by Joe Stott, turning the Bridlington back three multiple times. Callum Dunne converted the penalty to make the scoreline 12-11.
The Old Crossleyans received the ball off the kick off and the proceeded to attach down the centre of the field. Joe Stott distributed the ball to Joel Macfarlane who proceeded to launch a twisting bomb into the Bridlington twenty-two. The Bridlington fullback couldn't get himself underneath the kick and let the ball bounce into their in goal. The fullback and winger both watched the ball roll along through the in goal towards the dead ball line, but as they did this the Old Crossleyans winger, Alex Thompson, sprinted in between the two Bridlington players and touched down the ball to get a try in the corner of the Broomfield pitch. Callum Dunne converted to make it 19-11.
Bridlington quickly responded and brought the scoreline back to 19-18 with a try and a conversion underneath the sticks. The momentum continued for the away side, with slick stepping from their backline putting their outside centre in underneath the posts. The try was converted to make it 19-25. Seven minutes remained on the clock, and the Old Crossleyans needed to score a converted try to avoid dropping into the relegation zone.
Shortly after kicking off to the Bridlington team, the Old Crossleyans received a penalty on their 40 metre line. Joel MacFarlane kicked the penalty half the length of the field to about 5 meters out from the Bridlington line, but some questionable linemanning from the Bridlington side put the line out on the twenty-two. The Old Crossleyans did not let this phase them with brilliant efforts from the forward pack putting the team on the opposition try line shortly after the lineout. Scramble defence from Bridlington was enough to keep the Old Crossleyans pack from scoring under the posts, but at the price of leaving a gap for Alex Thompson on the right wing. Joe Stott looped a pass to Alex Thompson, who had too much pace for the Bridlington backs and scored 10 meters from the touchline in the dying seconds of the game.
The final score now came down to the conversion, with the scoreline sat at 24-25. Callum Dunne stepped up to the mark. The Old Crossleyans full back calmly set for the kick and with zero hesitation slotted it through the Broomfield Avenue sticks. The crowd cheered as the kick soared through the air, this cheer was the signal for the rest of Old Crossleyans team to uncover their eyes and celebrate the victory. Final score 26-25.
